Potato-digger



(No Model.)

G. S. TORREY.-

POTATO BIGGER. No. 326,461. Patented Sept. 15, 1885.

agi-6 Inventor A L/ %/m, v CZJHZM 5.1 01 7% PATENT Erica.

CHARLES S. TORREY, OF DIMONDALE, MICHIGAN.

POTATO-BIGGER.

EPECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,461, datedSeptember 15, 1885.

Application filed June 20, 1894.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. TORREY, of Dimondale, in the county ofEaton and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Potato-Diggers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being hadto theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in theconstruction of that class of agricultural implements known as root orpotato diggers.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction, operation, andcombinations of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is aperspective View of the same with parts removed, showing the arrangementof supporting frame, handles, tongue, and devices for elevating orlowering the excavator proper. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective showingthe excavator proper, its supports, spring-riddle, section of thetraction-wheel, and device by means of which a vibration is communicatedto the spring-riddle by the rotation of the wheel.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Arepresents a suitable frame, provided with handles B, tongue 0, andelevated seat D. To either side of the frame and at their forward endsare pivotally secured the supports E,made somewhat in the form ofabell-cranl:,as shown,the opposite end being provided with aslot,a,through which passes the bolt b into the side of the frame, theinner edge of this part of the support being provided with teeth 0,which engage with similar teeth upon the segment F,

which is pivotally secured also to the side of the frame and providedwith ahandle,G,which projects upward within easy reach of the 0ccupantof the seat D. Curved ratchets aresecured one upon each side of the topof the frame, and the teeth of these ratchets are designed to engagewith a feather or stop upon the inner face of the handle G and by thisarrangement of parts the frame is elevated or lowered, as may bedesired, with relation to the stub-axles I, which carry thetractionwheels J. Supports K, which carry the don ble-pointed excavatoror plow L, are pivotally securedone to each side of the frameby meansof. the bolts (1, at or rear corner of such supports. Near the upperfront corner of these supports each is provided with a curved slot, 0,through which suitable bolts pass to secure such supports to the framein such a manner that the front side thereof may be elevated ordepressed, thereby governing the depth to which the excavator L willwork, and also governing its proper pitch. To the rear end of thisexcavator or double-shovel plow there are secured a series so secured toatie-bar, N, as to hold such rods in their relative position to eachother. These rods are curved,- such curvatures being larger upon oneside of the machine,and successively growing less toward the other side,as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the hill or row being operated uponiscarried up upon the excavator, which in its forward passage forces thehill or row back upon its spring-riddle, the curvatures of the rods ofwhich tend to throw off the load at the lowest rear corner, such cornerbeing made by the systems of curvature above referred to. The bar N, upon its upturned end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is provided with an arm,0, sleeved upon such upturned end, and held adjustably in place by meansof a set screw, f, or a nut and washer upon the end of said upturnedend,or by any other analogous device. The front end of this arm 0 ispivotally secured by means of a suitable bolt to the side of theframe,as shown in Fig. 1. The wheel J upon this side of the device isprovided with corrugations or V- shaped teeth g, which in the rotationof the wheel strike the arm 0, and impart a quick motion to thespring-rods in the opposite direction, and as soon as the arm has passedthe obstruction upon the wheel the spring of the rods brings them backto the original position, ready to be operated by the succeedingcorrugation upon the wheel. This rapid vibration given to thespring-riddle breaks up to a certain extent the earth-clods and allowsthe dirt to pass through the riddle, while the potatoes are dischargedat the rear and lower corner of such riddle upon the near the upper 5 ofspring-rods, M, the rear ends of which are ground, such discharge beingpreferable to so constructing the riddle that the roots dug will bethrown ofi to either side, as in the latter case more or less of themare in dangerof being trodden upon by the team in the next bout.

By the use of a device constructed as above described, substantially, avery effective implement is obtained at a comparatively small cost tothe agriculturist. The vertical adjustability of the excavator proper,by means of the slots and bolts which support the front sides of thesupports, allows the device to be used not only for digging potatoes,but for throwing out of the ground the longer roots, like beets,carrots, &c. It is preferable to make the excavator proper about twofeet in width between the standards which support it from the frame. asby this means all the potatoes in the bill which may have been spreadare reached, which would not be the case with lhe narrower constructionof the excavator. The adjustability described, by means ofwhich theframe is elevated or depressed with relation to the stub-axles, enablesthe operator to throw the whole of the working parts .of the device up asuificient distance to drive to and from the field, the excavator beingelevated sufficiently to pass over all ordinary obstructions andinequalities of the surface.

I am aware of the Patents N 0. 40,120 and No. 150,034, and make no claimto the conrods the front ends of which are secured to struction showntherein as forming part of my invention.

I am aware of the Patent No. 150,702, and make no claim to theconstruction shown therein as forming part of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In combination with the excavator L,the riddle M, composed of a series of spring- 4 said excavator and theirrear ends to a tiebar, N," the arm 0, connecting said tie-bar with themain frame, and the wheel J, having corrugations adapted in the rotationof said wheel to strike said arm 0 and vibrate said riddle,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the excavator L of a root-digger,adj ustabl ysecured to the carrying-frame, the riddle M, composed of the tiebar N,and a series of springrods the front ends of which are secured to therear end of said excavator and their rear ends to the tiebar N, said barhaving an upturned end, and the arm 0, one end adjustably sleeved onsaid upturned end and the other end pivotally secured to the frame,substantially as described.

' 4 CHARLES S. TORREY.

Witnesses:v

H. J. SPRAGUE, E. SoULLY.

